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Public Attitudes towards Digital Water Meters for Households

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  • Steven Hendrik Andreas Koop

    (KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
    Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB Utrecht, The Netherlands)

  • Sharon Helena Pascale Clevers

    (KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands)

  • Elisabeth Johanna Maria Blokker

    (KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
    Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences Stevinweg 1, Delft University of Technolgy, 2628 CN Delft, The Netherlands)

  • Stijn Brouwer

    (KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3430 BB Nieuwegein, The Netherlands
    Department of Sociology, University of Antwerp, Sint-Jacobstraat 2, 2000 Antwerp, Belgium)

Abstract

In response to droughts, various media campaigns and water-saving instructions are released. However, these often only have temporary water conservation effects. A promising development in this regard is Digital Water Meters (DWM), which can provide near real-time water-use feedback. Despite extensive DWM experience in some water-stressed regions, a profound understanding of the initial attitude towards DWM and message-tailoring opportunities are rarely empirically explored. This study aims to obtain insights into the attitude towards the introduction of DWM and explore opportunities for message tailoring, a topic of extra relevance as we may be on the threshold of a large-scale DWM implementation in many world regions. Messages tailored to (i) normative beliefs and attitudes on drinking water, (ii) water-use activity and (iii) phase of decision-making, seem particularly compatible with DWM. Through a survey (n = 1037) in the Netherlands, we observe that 93% of respondents have no objections if their utility invests in DWM and that 78% would accept a (free) DWM because of improved leakage detection, lower costs and environmental considerations. Finally, instead of sociodemographic factors, we observe that an attitude-based customer segmentation approach is an especially useful predictor of respondent’s motivation to endorse DWM and forms a promising basis for water conservation message-tailoring strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven Hendrik Andreas Koop & Sharon Helena Pascale Clevers & Elisabeth Johanna Maria Blokker & Stijn Brouwer, 2021. "Public Attitudes towards Digital Water Meters for Households," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-19, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:11:p:6440-:d:569588
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    References listed on IDEAS

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